Tool handle



fly 12, 1938.

J. F. wlNDspR TOOL HANDLE Filed Jan. 21, 1937 TTORNEYS,

Patented July 12, 1938 UNITED Ns'rfrrss* Toor. HANDLE John F. Windsor, Fairfield, Conn., assignor to The Bridgeport Hardware Manufacturing lCorporation, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of :Con-

necticut Application `,January 21, 19,37, Serial No. 121,397

V1 Claim.

Thisinvention relates :toshandles for tools, such for lexample `as -screw drivers, nchisels and 'the like, and has for an object to provideran improved handle of simple construction `in which the force of :Iblows of ',-a .hammer -or rmallet aon the lend of the handle :is transferred directly -to the shank :of thetool .by an fend member which 'is zof practically indestructible material, fand because ithe force .of the blows is transmitteddirectly to `the-shank -in-V dependently of the main or bodyportion of the handle, .this latter .portion may be made of a different material which is less expensive and which need not be of indestructible material or material capable of withstanding the force of the blows.

With the foregoing and other objects in view I have devised a construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification, it however, being understood that I amnot limited to the exact details of construction shown but may use variations within the scope of the invention.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a tool embodying my invention; v

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the handle showing the tool and shank in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section thereof substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional View of the4 upper end of the handle with the upper end of the shank shown in elevation; and

, Fig. 5 is a section through the members of the handle in separated relation before being assembled, the shank of the tool being shown in elevation.

The tool illustrated is a screw driver, but this is used merely for the purposes of illustration as it will be understood the tool may be a chisel, or any other tool for which such a handle is adapted.

The tool shown comprises a screw driver bit IIJ having a. shank I I which is extended through the body portion I2 of -the handle. As shown the upper end of this shank projects a short distance above the upper end of the body I2, but this may be varied so long as the construction is such that the force of blows on the end of the completed handle are transmitted directly to the shank. This body I2 may be of any suitable material, preferably of some material which is of relatively low cost, such for example as wood or vulcanized hard rubber or rubber composition, to reduce the cost of the handle. These materials are satisfactory for this body member because, as will later be shown, this member is not required to withstand the blows of a hammer orxmalletaon the end of -the handle. The 'lower end of this body is ordinarily reduced as :shown .at :I3 and enclosed in :achollow ferr-.ule t4 which may .besecured to the `shank `by a atransverse :pin or rivet I5, lthus holding the body .member `ft2 in :proper position on the shank. Y

Secured to the `upper end of the shank of the member I2 is. an .enlarged abutment Vor fhead member i6, preferably of ablock ofsmetal, which .I

is` drlilled at I 1 to freceive the end flr Lof itheishank. At the inner end of the drilled opening I'I there is preferably `a portion I9 of smaller diameter, and before applying this head to the shank the end of the shank may be tapered somewhat as shown at 20. The side walls of the shank are also preferably scored or slightly grooved as shown at 2|. When applying this block or abutment member to the shank the shank is of relatively tight fit in the opening I'I, and by driving the block down onto the head of the shank the reduced portion I9 and the end of the shank are deformed and sort of flow or run together so that the block I6 is in effect in one piece with the shank with no danger of working loose. The metal of the block more or less runs into the scoring 2| in the shank and helps to secure the two together, and it also helps prevent relative turning between them,

The drawing in Fig. 4 shows the end of the shank deformed into the reduced portion I9, but this is merely for illustration only as it appears that the metal of both the head member and the shank is deformed, because the metal as indicated above appears to run together. In the present showing the upper end of the body I2 is recessed at 22 to receive the lower end of the head members I6, but this is not necessary, it being used in the present case to permit the use of a longer member I6 with a shallower recess in the cap or end member 23.

This member 23, as will be evident because of its location, must receive directly the force of a hammer or mallet blow on the end of the han- I die. It must therefore be of some material which is resistant to breaking or deformation under these blows to a high degree. I have found a material which is known on the market as Pyralin to be very satisfactory. This is a cellulose nitrate material which I have found to be very well adapted for this purpose as it is practically indestructible, may be easily applied, and is a good electrical insulator so that if the body portion I2 of the handle is also of insulating material the whole handle is insulated. This cap 23 is formed with a recess 24 to receive the abutment or head member I6. This material has the property of softening somewhat when at the proper temperature, and if the recess 24 is somewhat smaller than the diameter of the block I6 the cap may be easily forced onto this block or head when this material is in the heated condition. The outer Walls of the head I6 are also preferably grooved or scored or otherwise roughened as indicated at 25 so that when the head is forced into this softened material is flows into these recesses and after hardening the cap is rigidly secured to the head with no danger of its loosening or turning in operation.

The cap 23 is preferably of an outside diameter substantially equal to that of the body I2 and its lower end is in substantial engagement with the top end of the body to give a smooth handle of attractive appearance. It will, however, be seen that the cap 23 is secured to the shank I I entirely independently of the body member I2. It will also be seen that the force of any blow on the top or outer end of the cap 23 is transmitted directly tothe head I6 and by it to the shank II independently of the body member I2, and therefore this body member is not required to take any of the force of these blows. I am of course not limited to the use of cellulose nitrate or the particular cellulose nitrate mentioned, but it will be evident I may use any other similar material which has similar characteristics so as to be capable of being applied to the shank in a similar manner to transmit the force of the blows directly thereto, and also if this material has the characteristics of resisting or withstanding these blows without breaking or deforming to an objectionable extent. It is probable there are synthetic resins or other similar materials which can be used for this purpose.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

A tool of the character described comprising a handle including' a non-metallic body member, a tool member having a metal shank extending longitudinally through the body member, a separate enlarged metallic head member having serrations on its outer peripheral surface, said head being rigidly secured by a forced fit to the end of the shank at the outer end of the body member, and a cap member of substantially the diameter of the body member at its outer end, said cap member being of a molded material diiferent from those of the body and head members and such as to be highly resistant to breaking and deformation under blows of a hammer or mallet, and said cap having a recess to receive saidy serrated head member and to which it is rigidly connected by forced fit so that the force of the blows on the cap is received by the head member and transferred by it to the shank.

JOHN F. WINDSOR. 

